realized that he is just an immigrant, the minority group in Vietnam. He can not be too proud to his culture because he lives in a foreign country. Percival starts to
diminish his superiority because of the new regulations.
2. The Cooperation with America
After Dai Jai went to China, Percival has to pay his debt. Mak tells him to get the certification from America so, he can increase the tuition by half. During
Vietnam War, South Vietnam is supported by the United States. There will be many Americans who come to South Vietnam. Percival is smart to take the
benefits of the war. He cooperates with the American, named Peter. He hires his students as translators for the American who come to Vietnam. The cooperation
has made Percival met many Americans. Before the cooperation, Percival used to group himself with the Chinese.
Accoring to the speech, he also underestimated the white people when Dai Jai had to move from Vietnam.
“”What good have the French ever been to us Chinese, or any white people? You would be miserable in a land of the gwei lo
white people”” 2012:117. The situation has changed, now Percival needs the American to improve his economy. He used to withdraw, but Percival now has
opened himself and interact with the American. The relationship becomes close when he invites them to the Tet Celebration. The quotation will be stated as
follows: One of the locally hired junior teachers stood, tilted slightly to one side,
then caught a chair in his hand and managed to remain upright. “I would like to say thank you to the American
army,” he said in English. “You have come to do brave battle against small yellow people, and to make the
English language a success. Therefore, you help us become rich Thank you, America” 2012:220-221
According to the Murphy, the development of the character is revealed through speech 1972:163. Percival has started to have a close relationship with the
American. According to Broom and Selznick, the less ethnocentric people take the other culture for granted, but still reject others, so does Percival. Even though
he begins to interact with others, he still does not like them. He just uses to them to increase his benefits. “Even after years of association with the Americans,
Percival still dislikes having their sweat, their smell, on his hands” 2012:270. According to the mannerism, Percival still hates the American‟s appearance. In
the same time, he opens himself to the American. The situation in the Vietnam War made Percival meet and interact with many Americans.
3. The Growing of Nationalism
